Sociological Perspectives of Deviance Over The Life Course Research Paper

Sociological Perspectives of Deviance Over The Life Course - Research Paper Example Laub and Robert(1990, p600) noted that the major shortcoming of criminologists’ approach to crime is that they ignore the early childhood characteristics of crime and as a result, it has become challenging to establish a relationship between child and adult offenses in the society. In the human development stages, empirical research has established that criminal behavior begins from childhood and attains its peak during adolescence, continuing later in life, as a person grows older. Moreover, labor market and social stability are important factors that influence development of deviant behavior later in life (Laub and Robert, 1990, p604). This paper investigates how criminal deviant behavior changes over one’s life course, by looking into strain and self-control theory in the theoretical criminology perspective. Sociological theories of criminal deviant behavior In the contemporary society, the culture of a given community determines what behavior is normal or deviant th rough established norms and values (Blumstein, et al, 1986, p53). This implies that a behavior considered deviant in one society could be acceptable in another. Blumstein et al(1986, p32) noted that norms and values constitute to the moral code of a culture that determines whether certain behavior is ‘good or bad’, and if it is right or wrong. In order to establish whether an action is normal or deviant, it is important to not only consider the action, but the place, the character of the person and the culture or the society that the action is done. Therefore, from a sociological point of view, deviant behavior is a conduct that does comply with the values and norms of the society in question (Hagan, 1989, p66). There is great disparity between normal and deviant behavior in view of different societies, but some actions are universally regarded as deviant, such mass murder, genocide, defiling children just to name a few. However, there is no scientific framework of esta blishing whether a given action is normal or amounts to deviance. As a result, sociologists affirm that there is a higher moral order that establishes whether a certain behavior is deviant, regardless of the cultural belief or conviction about the normality of the behavior (Hagan, 1989, p69). For example, certain behavior such as child abuse is presently considered deviant irrespective of cultural beliefs that justified punishment of child as a way of imparting discipline. Deviance behavior is a normal in every society and it presents opportunities for the larger society to unite with intention of countering the deviant group (Caspi, 1987, p 1215). The unity of purpose is essential for continuous survival of any group. It is common for members in society to take each other granted when everything is working normally resulting to weakening of social interdependence. However, emergence of social deviance behavior in society rekindles their unity, and it compels the society to recommit to social controls that hold the society together. Moreover, deviant behavior